Let the countdown begin. The NFL Draft is this coming weekend (April 25-26) and any real man worth the weight of his bowling ball will, at the very least, be monitoring the non-action.

More specific, let us narrow our focus to the only team that matters -- the Eagles.

If some rookie steps up in the middle of season and starts making plays, don't come to me and say: "Where did this guy come from?" You should already know. That's why you're here. Let's call it Eagles' Draft 101 (the second part of the course will be my post-draft postmortem).

After trading away one their two first-round picks (No. 28 overall) -- as well as an expendable fourth and a sixth next year -- to Buffalo for All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, the Birds have already had a successful draft.

Instead of moving up to the first third of Round One to get a question mark at left tackle, which would have fit Andy Reid's MO as much as a third trip to the buffet table or poor clock management at the end of a half, they got a proven tackle with the 28th pick.

And who looks like a genius now for making that trade out of the first round last year with Carolina to pick up the extra first?

And all the outcry about Brian Dawkins and the other veterans they let leave via free agency? That money under the cap was used to lock up Peters in a lucrative six-year deal.

And the best part is that the Eagles are still sitting as pretty as a Playboy bunny at H2's ranch as this weekend approaches. They still have 10 picks and not a whole lot of glaring needs.

The view from my binoculars here in Gordonville is that the needs are these: A running back who can spell Brian Westbrook while also being able to create some of the same headaches for defensive coordinators; A tight end to pair with Brent Celek; And, in my mind, an upgrade at center (with the other NFC East teams bolstering the interior of their defensive lines this offseason).

Anything else would be strictly for depth.

Some would say the Eagles still need a safety after losing Dawkins, but don't forget they signed Shawn Jones and Rashad Baker in free agency to join Quintin Mikell and Quintin Demps (who can play the game, in spite of his nightmarish outing in the NFC championship). Many national draft "experts" have the Eagles going for a safety in the earlier rounds, but I wouldn't be surprised if they wait until later -- or not at all.

As for other defensive postions, they may add a tackle and/or rush end and maybe a linebacker. And this is a deep draft for corners, so they may surprise us earlier than expected.

Offensively, you may see a receiver at some point. Ditto for another running back to add depth beyond whatever blue-chipper they grab in the early rounds. And the Eagles never leave a draft without a lineman or two, even though they have enough on their roster for two teams already. Quarterback? Andy Reid once said that any year a team has extra picks, they should take a quarterback -- if only to groom into an asset to be traded away.

That said, let's look at this three ways. The first is the fantasy. It's how I would do it. Keep in mind that I have many fantasy football titles on my resume and the reason was my drafting prowess. The second is the harsh thud of reality. It is what the Eagles will probably do, knowing their all-too-predictable proclivities. The third is, well, a mixture of the two views. A way it could, conceivably, fall into place.

Little trades are a likely possibility, as the Eagles are known to pull stunts like trading a fifth for a fourth the following year. Following the Peters move, I think it is less likely the Eagles move up but possible they move down a few spots in the first round. However, it would be all conjecture on top of all the guesswork we are already dealing with here. Therefore, for the sake of this drill, no trades.

Ready? Let's roll:

My Way - The Fantasy

First Round (No. 21 overall): LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
- Comment: Sorry, folks. The perfect fit, Knowshon Moreno of Georgia, will be off the board and Chris "Beanie" Wells of Ohio State is not the Eagles' type of back. The explosive McCoy may be a slight reach, but trading back 6-8 spots would be risky because he is an ideal fit in Arizona and they could jump ahead if we jump back too far.
Second Round (No. 53):Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
- Comment: Some would say this is another slight reach, but Cofffman (90 catches, 10 TDs last year) has the bloodlines (his father was a solid NFL tight end). Needs work as a blocker, but will put in the effort to learn. Great character guy, which will be a nice departure from L.J. Smith.
Third Round (No. 85): Eric Wood, C, Louisville
- Comment: I didn't want to do this. There were more exciting and inviting players on the board (Jackson State corner Domonique Jackson could be a steal). I love the top two centers in this draft -- Alex Mack of California and Max Unger of Oregon -- and one or the other could be there if the Eagles trade out of 21 and add a pick in the middle of the second round. That scenario aside, Wood is a four-year starter and adds competition at a spot that can't just be gift-wrapped for the very pedestrian and limited Jamaal Jackson because of a lack of other viable options.
Fifth Round (No. 141): McKenna"Bear" Pascoe, TE, Fresno State
- Comment: While considered to be around the 10th best tight end available, he is higher the list of two-way tight ends (once you removed the glorified wide receivers from the list). Had 85 catches over the last two seasons and uses his size (6-5, 257) well as a blocker. Earned his nickname because of his playing style. Happy? And now, with three tight ends (Celek, Coffman and "Bear"), we can wave a collective goodbye to Matt Schobel once and for all. Four's a crowd, dude!
Fifth Round (No. 153): Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State
- Comment: Yes, this is the guy who proposed to his girlfriend after the amazing 2007 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. He's also the same guy who returned as a Heisman Trophy candidate and didn't improve much, although injuries were the main culprit. In a West Coast attack, Johnson's receiving skills are enough to put the pitiful Lorenzo Booker out of work.
Fifth Round (No. 157): Terrance Knighton, DT, Temple
- Comment: This guy was playing dominating football at the end of the season (I watch my alma mater whenever possible, so this is a sleeper from the pages of my own personal scouting reports.). Plus, if someone is going put Dan Klecko out of a job as the fourth defensive tackle, it may as well be another Temple guy, right?
Fifth Round (No. 159): Kaluka Maiva, OLB, USC
- Comment: The forgotten guy among the Trojans' linebackers (three will go in the first two rounds, if not all the first). Maiva is undersized (6-0, 232) but has an oversized heart and some athleticism to at least kick it old school on special teams.
Sixth Round (No. 194): Deon Butler, WR, Penn State
- Comment: Although teammate Derek Williams will get draft higher, probably in the early third round, let us not forget that Butler actually led PSU with 47 catches for 810 yards and 7 touchdowns last season. He also has return ability, should Desean Jackson get dinged. His size -- 5-9, 173 -- is the only reason for the drop on draft boards. He runs a 4.47 40 and makes plays. So here is your receiver, fans. Sorry if it wasn't someone more exotic.
Sixth Round (No. 195): Anthony Scirrotto, SS, Penn State
- Comment: I hate Penn State, really. But business is business. Can help on special teams and maybe develop into a third safety in time. A lot like former Eagle and Penn Stater Mike Zordich. Can you live with that as a deep reserve? Note to annoying Nittany Lions' fans who over-value their guys: This is where they are rated, sorry.
Seventh Round (No. 230): Ryan Mouton, Athlete, Hawaii
- Comment: Runs a 4.4 in the 40 but doesn't really have a position, although he would probably get a first look at corner. Hey, you can't teach speed. This flyer is worth a flier.

Note that I doubled up on several of the need positions. Not the way Andy will do it ...

Reid's Way - The Reality

First Round (No. 21 overall): Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
- Comment: Some say he won't be there, but he will. And I think Reid goes for the jugular by taking the top-rated guy at a need position. Can't really argue except ... what about running back? We'll hear the spin about how Westbrook is back at full strength and how Lorenzo Booker will be better in his second year in the system. Scary, but we've heard it all before, have we not?
Second Round (No. 53): Paul Kruger, DE, Utah
- Comment: Another great value pick, or so they will spin it about this overaged rookie (he's 24) who is also slender (6-5, 265) but athletic and hard-working and considered to be more of a Top 40 pick. Oh ... and he's also a Mormon. Gotta keep that quota up, Andy.
Third Round (No. 85): Pat White, multi-purpose, West Virginia
- Comment: "We couldn't believe he was still on the board. We had him as a Day 1 pick," GM Tom Heckert will proclaim. Sure, don't all guys without a true position get drafted in the first two rounds? White has flaws as a quarterback and is too small (6-0, 190) to play there anyway. There are more polished wide receivers and making him a running back would be a project. But the Eagles will tell us they got three for the price of one. The fans will eat up like a Pat's Cheese Steak, too.
Fifth Round (No. 141): Austin Collie, WR, BYU
- Comment: The same spin as with White and Kruger, as Collie led the nation in receiving yards (1,538 on 105 catches!) while hauling in 15 touchdowns last season in a gimmick offense. He's been called by a scouts a "slower version of Kevin Curtis." On the plus side, maybe he'll be able to stay on his feet and actually catch the ball when it counts most (ouch, a shot at Kevin Curtis!). Or maybe, as with almost all young receivers, he'll ride the bench here for 13 years while learning the complex scheme. In the meanwhile, another Mormon to give part of his salary to the church is in the fold. Good times.
Fifth Round (No. 153): Scott McKillop, ILB, Pitt
- Comment: A good player and good value here, but ... a middle linebacker when you already have Stewart Bradley and Joe Mays? Does anyone at NovaCare know that you can only 53 guys on the active roster?
Fifth Round (No. 157): Seth Olson, OG, Iowa
- Comment: The needless run on offensive lineman who will hard-pressed to make the team begins by reaching for a tough-but-limited athlete.
Fifth Round (No. 159): Sammie Hill, DT, Stillman College
- Comment: The Eagles love taking a small-school project each year to look clever. This guy is humungous (6-4, 330) but had all of 7.5 sacks against virtual midgets. Good night, good luck ... but a good mini-camp storyline for the beat writers.
Sixth Round (No. 194): Brett Helms, C, LSU
- Comment: An undersized center? In 2009? Albert Haynesworth is salivating already. So is Jamaal Jackson. Job is safe, baby.
Sixth Round (No. 195): Stephen McGee, QB, Texas A&M
- Comment: An option college quarterback with a lot of grit will become Andy's practice squad science project, even with better QBs still on the board. Grrrrr!
Seventh Round (No. 230): Phil Trautwein, OT, Florida
- Comment: A South Jersey kid who was one of Florida's team captains. That's the good news. The bad news ... too slow-footed and soft for the next level. But what's another offensive lineman to cut?

The above will look like a good draft, value-wise, but will have flaws revealed as the years pass. What else is new, huh?

But there is another way it could go and I wouldn't surprised -- or terribly displeased -- so keep these names in mind ...

First Round (No. 21 overall): Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
-Comment: A DeSean Jackson type, Harvin could also line up in the backfield -- as he did at Florida -- as a third-down back. Has a major tude but great upside.
Second Round (No. 53): Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
- Comment: Has a lot of potential but his Day 1 status is based a lot on pre-draft workouts and not production. I'd rather see Victor Abiamiri get a shot to start this year.
Third Round (No. 85): Jeremiah Johnson, RB, Oregon
- Comment: His name has been paired with the Eagles a lot because he fits the system. Smallish (5-9, 200), he is more quick than fast but has been highly productive as a runner and catches the ball smoothly. Stock drops slightly because of a torn ACL in 2007, but he could be a nice pick (kind of like another third-round running back from Villanova a few years back).
Fifth Round (No. 141): Austin Collie, WR, BYU
- Comment: Come on ... you know it's gonna happen! His older brother, Zac, was a training camp body two years ago after playing at BYU. Their dad, Scott, and Andy Reid were college teammates at ... BYU.
Fifth Round (No. 153): Tony Fiametta, FB, Syracuse
- Comment: Yes, the Eagles signed Leonard Weaver. But it was only a one-year deal. Although the versatile Fiammetta is the top-ranked fullback among an average group, he may slip this far. The Eagles can sell the fact that he can play a little tight end and/or H-back -- as can Weaver (a college tight end).
Fifth Round (No. 157): John Phillips, TE, Virginia
- Comment: Don't worry, here's a true tight end four picks later. They'll forget they ever uttered the nonsense about how they will use Fiametta when they already have Weaver. Phillips has good size (6-6, 251) and does everything decently -- except get deep. Scouts believe that if he can add 10-15 pounds, he could be as much of a force blocking as Pettigrew down the road. Whatever. I still like my guy, the "Bear," better.
Fifth Round (No. 159): Roy Miller, DT, Texas
- Comment: An effort player who has the fortitude to make it as a backup.
Sixth Round (No. 194): Brandon Underwood, DB, Cincinnati
- Comment: A defensive back is likely at some point, and this guy can play safety and corner.
Sixth Round (No. 195): Mike Reilly, QB, Central Washington
- Comment: If Donovan McNabb stays past this year, Kevin Kolb goes. Plain and simple. Another guy has to be groomed. Reilly, though at a lower level, put up sick numbers (3,706 yards, 37 touchdowns) last year and throughout his career. Scouts say he would have to play in a West Coast offense to make it because his arm strength is lacking. Reminds some of Jeff Garcia.
Seventh Round (No. 230): Pat McAfee, K-P, West Virginia
- Comment: A kicking specialist? Yeah, why not? It's the seventh round. And the Eagles really don't have a lot of open roster spots. His best bet would be to challenge this inconsistent Sav Rocca, and it could be a dead heat right out of the gate. His presence, even as a kickoff guy, could make David Akers kick it up (get it, kick it up?) a notch, too.

Not as good as my draft, but doesn't leave as many holes as Reid's likely scenario.

And if you read this far, give yourself a hand. I hope this helps create clarity come this weekend.